Printer

ABSTRACT

A printer comprises a receiving section which receives printing jobs from a networked personal computers, a storage section which stores the received printing jobs, and a printing section which executes a printing job extracted from the storage section. A control section of the printer determines whether the printing jobs received by the receiving section include special printing, and causes a display section to display a list of the printing jobs including the special printing. The printing section executes the printing job selected from the displayed list by the user through an input section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer which prints an imageand/or character on a paper sheet based n printing jobs sent fromnetworked personal computers.

[0002] In general, a printer used in an office or the like is networkedto a plurality of personal computers via a printer server. The printerserver receives and stores printing jobs sent from the respectivepersonal computers. At the same time, the printer executes the printingjobs in the order in which the printer server receives them, and printsan image and/or characters on a paper sheet.

[0003] However, it is known that, in the case where the printing jobsinclude printing on a special paper sheet other than a normal papersheet, such as a thick paper sheet or a tab paper sheet, jamming isliable to occur during the printing on the special paper sheet. Whenjamming occurs, the printing job is interrupted, while the user isunaware of it. Further, when the printing jobs including special paperprinting are processed, if a special paper sheet is not set in a paperfeed cassette or a manual feed tray, the printing job may beinterrupted, while the user is unaware of it.

[0004] If the printing jobs are interrupted as mentioned above,successive printing jobs continuously stored in the printer servercannot be executed until someone recognizes and copes with the jammingor sets a special paper sheet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention was made in consideration of the abovematters and its object is to provide a printer, which has an increasedavailability factor.

[0006] To achieve the above object, a printer according to an embodimentof the present invention comprises a receiving section which receivesprinting jobs from networked personal computers, a storage section whichstores the received printing jobs, and a printing section which executesa printing job extracted from the storage section. A control section ofthe printer determines whether the printing jobs received by thereceiving section include special printing, and causes a display sectionto display a list of the printing jobs including the special printing.The printing section executes the printing job selected from thedisplayed list by the user through an input section.

[0007] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferredembodiments of the invention, and together with the general descriptiongiven above and the detailed description of the preferred embodimentsgiven below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a print system, in which aprinter according to an embodiment of the present invention is networkedto a plurality of personal computers;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structure of the printerincorporated in the print system shown in FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining operations of the printershown in FIG. 2;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining operations of the printershown in FIG. 2; and

[0013]FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining steps of the receivingprocess shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the drawings.

[0015]FIG. 1 shows a print system 100 in which a printer 1 according toan embodiment of the present invention is networked to a plurality ofpersonal computers (terminals) 10.

[0016] The user operates the personal computer 10 to input datanecessary for printing, such as an image or character. The personalcomputer 10 send a command to execute the printing based on the inputdata to the printer 1 as a printing job. The printer 1 receives andstores printing jobs sent from the respective personal computers, andexecutes the printing jobs basically in the order in which it receivesthem.

[0017]FIG. 2 shows structural elements of the printer 1 in a blockdiagram.

[0018] The printer 1 has a control section 2, which controls operationsof the printer 1. The control section 2 is connected with an operationpanel 11 of a touch panel system having a function as a display section3 and a function as an input section 4, a receiving section 5 whichreceives printing jobs sent from the personal computers 10, a storagesection 6 which stores the received printing jobs, an image processingsection 7 which processes page data contained in the printing jobs asnecessary, a printing section 8 which executes the printing jobs, and apaper feed section 9 which feeds paper sheets to the printing section 8.

[0019] The paper feed section 9 comprises two paper feed cassettes 9 aand 9 b (see FIG. 1) and a manual feed tray, which is not shown. It alsocomprises a sensor 90 for sensing the presence or absence of the paperfeed cassettes and the manual feed tray. Not only normal paper sheetsbut also special paper sheets, such as tab paper sheets, can be set inthe paper feed cassettes 9 a and 9 b and the manual feed tray. The tabpaper sheet refers to a rectangular paper sheet having a tab integrallyprotruded from one side of the sheet. Besides the tab paper sheets, thespecial paper sheets include thick paper sheets or foreign paper sheets(made in the United States, China, etc.).

[0020] The control section 2 also serves as a determining section of thepresent invention, which determines whether the printing jobs receivedthrough the receiving section 5 include printing on a special papersheet, such as a tab paper sheet (hereinafter referred to as specialprinting). In this description, printing, which causes jamming moreeasily as compared to the printing on normal paper sheets, is referredto as special printing.

[0021] The storage section 6 stores all printing jobs received from thepersonal computers via the receiving section 5. In particular, it storesa specific printing job, which is determined by the control section 2 asincluding special printing, separately from the printing jobs that donot include special printing.

[0022] The display section 3 displays a list of specific printing jobs,which are determined by the control section 2 as including specialprinting, of the printing jobs stored in the storage section 6. The listmay be displayed as the names of the users of the personal computers 10as well as the printing job names, and so forth.

[0023] The input section 4 accepts various operation inputs by the user.The user selects a printing job to be executed from the list displayedthrough the display section 3, and inputs it through the input section4. In this embodiment, the display section 3 and the input section 4compose the operation panel 11 of the touch panel system. Therefore,when the user touches an item displayed through the display section 3,the corresponding printing job is selected.

[0024] In printing on, for example, a tab paper sheet, the imageprocessing section 7 shifts page data to be printed by the amountcorresponding to the tab. Alternatively, the paper feed section 9 mayshift the timing of feeding a tab paper sheet by the amountcorresponding to the tab.

[0025] The printing section 8 prints, on a paper sheet (including a tabpaper sheet) fed from the paper feed section 9, an image and/orcharacters in page data contained in the printing job read from thestorage section 6.

[0026] An operation of the above-mentioned printer 1 will now bedescribed with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0027] First, as shown in FIG. 3, when a printing job is sent from apersonal computer 10 through the network (a step 1; YES), the printingjob is received through the receiving section 5 of the printer 1 (a step2). The received printing job is stored in the storage section 6.

[0028] In a receiving process of the step 2, as shown in FIG. 5, theprinter 1 first receives a notice of start of sending printing job sentfrom the sender personal computer 10 (a step 21). Then, it receivesindex data (hereinafter referred to as the job index) representing thecontents of the printing job (a step 22). Thereafter, it receives anotice of start of sending page data of the first page contained in theprinting job (a step 23). Then, it receives index data (hereinafterreferred to as the page index) representing the contents of the pagedata (a step 24). Thereafter, it receives the page data (a step 25).Then, it receives a notice of end of sending the page data (a step 26).If there is page data on the second and subsequent pages (a step 27;YES), the process of the steps 23 to 26 is repeated a number of timescorresponding to the pages, so that the page data on the second andsubsequent pages are received. If it is determined that there is nosubsequent page data in the step 27 (the step 27; NO), a notice of endof sending the printing job is received and the operation is ended (astep 28).

[0029] In the receiving process of the step 2 (i.e., the steps 21 to28), the control section 2 determines whether the received printing jobincludes special printing (a step 3). If it is determined in the step 3that the printing job does not include special printing (the step 3;NO), the printing job is read from the storage section 6 and immediatelyexecuted by the printing section 8, and a normal printing process isperformed (a step 4).

[0030] To the contrary, if it is determined in the step 3 that theprinting job includes special printing (the step 3; YES), the printingjob is not executed but held in the storage section 6 (a step 5). Inother words, printing jobs including special printing are accumulated inthe storage section 6 without being executed.

[0031] Then, a list of the printing jobs including the special printingstored in the storage section 6 is displayed through the display section3 (a step 6). In the state where the printing jobs including the specialprinting are thus displayed as a list through the display section 3, theuser's instruction for execution of a printing job is waited for.

[0032] In this state, when an instruction for execution of a printingjob (i.e., an action of touching a selected printing job) is given bythe user through the input section 4 of the printer 1 (a step 11; YES),the printing job is executed by the printing section 8 (a step 13) onthe condition that preparation for the printing job on the printer sidehas been made (a step 12; YES). The wording “preparation for theprinting job” used here refers to, for example, setting of a tab papersheet for use in special printing in the predetermined paper feedcassette (or the manual feed tray).

[0033] On the contrary, if it is determined in the step 12, for example,that no tab paper sheet is set through the sensor 90, therefore,preparation for printing has not been made, the operation guide “Set tabpaper” is displayed through the display section 3 (a step 14). The userobserves the guide and sets a tab paper sheet in the predetermined paperfeed cassette or the manual feed tray (a step 15). Then, the process ofthe step 13 is executed on the condition that instructions for executionof the printing job are given by the user again (a step 16; YES).

[0034] The determination process of the step 3 will be described withreference to some examples.

[0035] According to a first embodiment, it is determined, in the processof receiving the printing job in the step 2, whether the page index ofeach page received in the step 24 includes information on specialprinting. The information on special printing includes a tab paper flagrepresenting that printing on a tab paper sheet should be performed,information on a paper feeder, size information, etc.

[0036] The printers are divided broadly into two types.

[0037] In a first type, the printer executes a printing job aftercompletion of the process of receiving the printing job. In this type,it is determined whether a page index including special printing isreceived, when the printing job reception is completed. If there is nopage index including special printing in the received printing job, theprinting job is stored in the storage section 6 and immediately executedby the printing section 8. If there is a page index including specialprinting, the printing job is stored in the storage section 6 anddisplayed through the display section 3.

[0038] In a second type, each time the printer receives page data in thestep 25 during the process of receiving the printing job, it sends thepage data to the printing section 8 to print the page. In this type, ifthe printing job is already being executed when it is determined thatthe page index includes information on special printing in the receivingprocess, the printing job is interrupted and the process is shifted tothe step 5 shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, if the printing job has notbeen executed when it is determined that the page index includingspecial printing is received, the process is immediately shifted to thestep 5.

[0039] In a second embodiment, it is determined during the printing jobreceiving process of the step 2 whether the job index of the printingjob received in the step 22 includes information on special printing. Inthis case, when it is determined that the job index including specialprinting is received, the process is shifted to the step 5.

[0040] Thus, according to the embodiments described above, when theprinter 1 receives a printing job including printing on a special papersheet such as a tab paper sheet, the printer does not immediatelyexecute the printing job but stores it in the storage section 6 anddisplays it through the display section 3. Then, the printing job isread from the storage section 6 and executed by the printing section 8on condition that the instructions for execution of the printing job ismade through the input section 4 by the user.

[0041] Therefore, if a special paper sheet for use in the printing job,for example, a tab paper sheet is not prepared or jamming occurs duringthe printing on a special paper sheet, the user can immediately dealwith the problem, since he/she is present close to the printer 1.Accordingly, it is possible to significantly reduce the time in whichthe subsequent printing job is withheld because of an unnoticedpaper-out condition or jamming. As a result, the availability factor ofthe printer can be increased.

[0042] In addition, since the storage section 6 of the printer 1 holdsthe printing jobs including special printing and the list thereof isdisplayed, the user can come to the printer 1 at suitable timing andmake it execute the printing job. Thus, the convenience is increased.Further, when the printing job is executed, special printing can beperformed on trial, or the printing position relative to the tab can beadjusted in view of the tab paper sheet actually output.

[0043] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broaderaspects is not limited to the specific details and representativeembodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, variousmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

[0044] For example, the printer 1 may notify the user's personalcomputer of the timing when the user should make the printer 1 executethe printing job including special printing. In other words, thepersonal computer of the user may be notified that special printing isincluded in the printing job sent to the printer 1 by the user, and alsonotified of the number or order of printing jobs including specialprinting sent by another user.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printer comprising: a receiving section whichreceives printing jobs; a storage section which stores the receivedprinting jobs; a printing section which executes the printing jobsextracted from the storage section; a determining section whichdetermines whether the printing jobs received by the receiving sectioninclude special printing; a display section which displays a list of theprinting jobs that are determined as including special printing by thedetermining section; an input section which accepts a printing jobselected by a user from the displayed list; and a control section whichextracts from the storage section the printing job selected by the user,and causes the printing section to execute it.
 2. A printer according toclaim 1, wherein the control section extracts a printing job that doesnot include special printing from the storage section and causes theprinting section to execute it.
 3. A printer according to claim 1,wherein the special printing is printing on a special paper sheet otherthan a normal paper sheet.
 4. A printer according to claim 3, whereinthe special paper sheet is a tab paper sheet.
 5. A printer according toclaim 3, further comprising: a paper feed section which feeds a specialpaper sheet to the printing section; and a sensor which senses absenceof a special paper sheet in the paper feed section, wherein when aprinting job including special printing is selected by the user throughthe input section, the control section causes the display section todisplay absence of the special paper sheet, on condition that the sensorsenses absence of the special paper sheet in the paper feed section. 6.A print system comprising: at least one terminal which receives datainput for printing and sends a printing job for executing the printingbased on the input data; and a printer which is networked to theterminal and executes the printing job sent from the terminal to printdata, said printer comprising: a receiving section which receivesprinting jobs send from the terminal; a storage section which stores thereceived printing jobs; a printing section which executes the printingjobs extracted from the storage section; a determining section whichdetermines whether the printing jobs received by the receiving sectioninclude special printing; a display section which displays a list of theprinting jobs that are determined as including special printing by thedetermining section; an input section which accepts a printing jobselected by a user from the displayed list; and a control section whichextracts from the storage section the printing job selected by the user,and causes the printing section to execute it.
 7. A print systemaccording to claim 6, wherein the control section extracts a printingjob that does not include special printing from the storage section andcauses the printing section to execute it.
 8. A print system accordingto claim 6, wherein the special printing is printing on a special papersheet other than a normal paper sheet.
 9. A print system according toclaim 8, wherein the special paper sheet is a tab paper sheet.
 10. Aprint system according to claim 8, wherein said printer furthercomprises: a paper feed section which feeds a special paper sheet to theprinting section; and a sensor which senses absence of a special papersheet in the paper feed section, wherein when a printing job includingspecial printing is selected by the user through the input section, thecontrol section causes the display section to display absence of thespecial paper sheet, on condition that the sensor senses absence of thespecial paper sheet in the paper feed section.
 11. A printing methodcomprising: receiving printing jobs; determining whether the receivedprinting jobs include special printing; executing the printing jobs thatare determined as not including special printing; displaying a list ofthe printing jobs that are determined as including special printingwithout executing them; accepting a printing job selected by a user fromthe displayed list; and executing the printing job selected by the user.12. A printing method according to claim 11, wherein the specialprinting is printing on a special paper sheet other than a normal papersheet.
 13. A printing method according to claim 12, wherein the specialpaper sheet is a tab paper sheet.